DirecTV to Acquire Dish Network for $1

DirecTV has agreed to acquire Dish Network and Sling TV from EchoStar for a nominal price of $1, while also assuming about $9.75 billion in debt, marking a significant consolidation in the U.S. pay-TV market. This deal, expected to close by late 2025, will create a major player in the industry with nearly 20 million subscribers, enhancing negotiating power with content providers in a landscape increasingly dominated by streaming services. DirecTV's CEO, Bill Morrow, emphasized the need for greater scale to compete effectively and tailor content offerings to customer preferences. This merger follows years of speculation and a failed attempt in 2002, with current market dynamics making regulatory approval more likely. The acquisition is seen as a lifeline for EchoStar, which has been struggling financially and is under significant debt pressure. The combined entity aims to offer smaller, more affordable content packages to attract customers shifting away from traditional satellite services.